Electricity and generator for an event under a tent

Name: Location Tente France
Address: FR

The technical item most often underestimated. How to assess your needs, size a generator and make the distribution safe so you never lose power in the middle of an event.

Par l'équipe éditoriale Location Tente France

Basé sur 100+ événements installés / an et la veille réglementaire CTS

An outdoor event is a place with no power sockets. Yet everything draws power: the caterer (fridges, ovens, washing-up), the DJ's sound and lighting, the ambient lighting, the heating, the ticketing or the control desk. The question of electricity is not a side matter — it is what keeps the whole evening running.

The classic mistake is to underestimate this need and to rely on an extension lead from the house or on a small generator “to get by”. The result: repeated tripping, fridges shutting down, music cutting out in the middle of a speech.

This guide explains how to draw up a power assessment, how to choose and size a generator (and soundproof it), and how to make the electrical distribution safe for an event under a tent.

Typical power-consuming items

Indicative orders of magnitude to confirm with each provider — the real assessment depends on the equipment.

Item	Consumption	Note
Caterer (cooking, refrigeration)	High	Often item no. 1; surges at start-up
Sound & lighting (DJ)	Medium to high	Depending on the stage set-up
Ambient lighting	Low to medium	LED = efficient
Electric heating	Very high	Prefer gas for large volumes
Small items (control desk, kiosks)	Low	Not to be forgotten in the total

The final sizing relies on the detailed assessment and a safety margin.

Drawing up the power assessment

It all starts with adding up the consumption. List each item with its provider and add up the power demands:

The caterer is often the most demanding (ovens, fridges, cold rooms, washing-up, coffee machines). Next come sound and lighting (DJ, PA, light effects), the ambient lighting, any electric heating, then the smaller items (ticketing, kiosks, charging).

We distinguish the nominal power (the sum of all appliances) from the power actually drawn (they do not all run at full capacity at the same time). The sizing also takes into account the start-up surges of certain motors (fridges, air conditioning), which momentarily draw far more than their nominal power.

Mains connection or generator?

Two solutions depending on the site:

Connection to the existing mains: possible if sufficient power is available nearby (a dedicated meter, a cabinet). Economical and silent, but rarely sufficient as is for a large event.
Generator: the go-to self-sufficient solution for outdoor events. Sized according to the power assessment, it guarantees a stable supply everywhere, including in the middle of nowhere.
Mixed solution: mains for the basic needs + generator for the large items or as a backup.

Sizing the generator properly

An undersized generator trips; an oversized one costs more and burns fuel needlessly. Correct sizing starts from the power assessment, to which a safety margin is added (often 20 to 30 %) to absorb the surges and keep a reserve.

Two crucial points for events: soundproofing (a noisy generator ruins the atmosphere — insist on a canopied/soundproofed model placed at a distance) and reliability (consider providing a backup generator for high-stakes events, so that a breakdown never interrupts the evening).

Distribution and safety

Producing the electricity is not enough: it has to be distributed cleanly and safely to every point of use. This is a job for a professional.

Distribution cabinet with suitable protections (residual-current devices, circuit breakers)
Cabling sized correctly, protected from foot traffic (cable ramps) and from moisture
Outdoor equipment (suitable IP rating)
Compliant earthing
Separation of circuits (caterer, sound/lighting, lighting) to isolate any incidents
Enough fuel, easily accessible, for the entire duration of the event

A reliable power supply for your event

List your providers for us (caterer, DJ, lighting): we draw up the power assessment, size the soundproofed generator and make the distribution safe.

Request a quote See the structures

FAQ

Vos questions, nos réponses

It depends entirely on your power assessment: the caterer, the DJ, the lighting and any electric heating are the main items. You add up the consumption, take into account the start-up surges (fridges in particular) and add a margin of 20 to 30 %. Rather than a standard figure, it is this assessment, drawn up with your providers, that gives the right power. Our team works it out for you.

Almost never for a real event. The power available on a domestic circuit is far below the combined needs of a caterer, a DJ and the lighting. The typical result is tripping in the middle of dinner. For any power-hungry event, plan for a properly sized generator or a dedicated mains connection.

A standard generator does — which is why the events industry uses canopied, soundproofed models, placed at a distance from the reception area. Well chosen and well positioned, the generator becomes inaudible to the guests. Always insist on a soundproofed generator so it does not drown out the music and conversation.

For high-stakes events (wedding, gala, large corporate event), it is valuable peace of mind: a backup generator automatically takes over in the event of a breakdown, so that no power cut interrupts the evening. For a small event, it is generally not necessary. The decision depends on the level of acceptable risk.

This is a job for a professional: a distribution cabinet with protections, cabling sized and protected, outdoor equipment, compliant earthing and separation of circuits. The electrical installation for an event must be carried out and checked by qualified technicians, for obvious safety reasons. We coordinate this item within the service.

For large volumes, gas-fired forced-air heating is generally preferable: it is powerful and does not add to the electrical assessment. Electric heating, which draws a great deal of power, can send the generator's required power soaring. So we reserve electric heating for small volumes or for cases where gas is not possible.

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